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Fly Tying Tips

Weed Guards

How To Tie Weed Guards on Saltwater Flies

Laid-up Tarpon Fly w/ Mono Weed Guard

Not being a big fan for weed guards, I would prefer not to use them.  In reality there are too many places and situations where it is impractical or just   plane impossible to fly fish without the aid of a weed guard.  With some fly patterns it is possible to tie a bendback style, or rely on spun deer hair to help the fly negotiate snags.  Other flies, especially small ones, it is necessary to rely on attached appliances.

      Down in the Keys, there are bonefish flats that most guides would not consider fishing without a box full of flies with weed guards.  But, don't venture down to the Keys expecting every shop to be stocked with a broad selection of flies tied with weed guards.

      There many different approaches to attaching weed guards to flies, the following is a brief description of a few of the most common along with the  advantages and limitations of each style.

Simple Mono Loop: 

This form is a good choice for general applications on medium to large size flies.  It is quick to tie and as effective as any for reducing hang-ups.  A good choice for use in stronger currents where you just don't have time to finesse a fly through a snag. 

Can be tied in single or double fashion.  The precise geometry of the loop is a subject of debate.  If you examine the work of some of the top tiers, you can note their expression of opinion on this subject.

On the down side, there is a fine line between weed guard and "fish guard" with this style.   After landing a few big fish the mono loop is often deformed beyond any hope of ever being useful.  

Mono or Wire Post:

This is a very popular style with many Florida saltwater tiers.  It is the least likely weed guard to cause you to miss a strike, and it is also affords the least amount of protection to the hook.  The number one choice for bonefish flies.

This style is particularly well suited for presentations where the fly will be in contact with the bottom  (or in the strike zone) for a short distance.

Can be tied either as a single post, or in a V fashion. 

Bent Wire:

Rather than being a straight post of wire this form of weed guard extends back to the point of the hook.  Careful consideration of wire size relative to fly size, fishing conditions, and how aggressively you expect the fish to strike are all necessary to insure proper performance.  This style of weed guard is popular with many Florida guides for use on tarpon and snook flies.

Lefty Kreh Bent Wire Weed Guard

Employing the principle that a long lever is easier to bend than a short one, Lefty Kreh took an innovative approach to the bent wire weed guard.  Extending the normal length of the wire and then cleverly bending the wire to match the geometry of the hook, he created a guard that has all the hook point protection of a shorter wire guard,  but the long lever allows the fish strike to easily depress the wire.  The hook point is not only exposed by pressure applied between the point and hook eye; pressure from the aft end of the fly will also expose the point.

This style guard can be attached to most completed flies even in the field.  I always keep some wire and a bobbin in my fly bag.  The ability to attach a weed guard in the field can occasionally save the day.  This photo sequence was made with a bare hook, normally I would attach the guard as the final step in the fly tying process.

Attach the wire as shown above, Wire may be attached by placing the short bend through the hook eye, or just below the hook eye.  Then bend to an angle where the wire is just forward of the hook point.

This second bend will determine how much protection the point will get.  A bend well below the hook point affords more protection, while a bend that is in alignment with the point affords the least protection.

This third bend should bring the wire just outside the hook bend.

Do not make this final bend too close to the hook.  Bent as shown in the photo, pressure from the rear will expose the hook point.

Harry Hall sefly
Guided Fly Fishing